Nav Social Menu

spring2014kal

It’s been real, folks, but the first Hands Occupied knit along has come to a close. :( I had so much fun sharpening my knitting needles skills, making some new friends and finishing a couple pairs of socks during this process. Pictured today is my new Shorty Socks knitting pattern, made using the exact techniques shared in each step of the Knit Along.

We’re in the home stretch, knitters!! Today I’m going to show you all how to do a toe decrease, which, surpriii-iiise!, is way easier that the parts of sock knitting you’ve already mastered. Aren’t you excited?

This is a gusset. While is has one of the weirdest names in knitting, the gusset isn’t all that weird. Gussets actually appear in other parts of clothing to help make them fit over the many curves of the human body. In socks, the shape being addressed is just the part of the foot that gradually narrows from where your ankle meets your foot to the size it should be to fit your arch.

Before you turn the heel, this is what you’re working with – a ribbed leg that’s several inches long, and a 2.5-3 inch heel flap. Now all of a sudden, since humans’ feet are perpendicular to their legs, you’ve got to start knitting in a totally different direction than you have been! Plus, half your sock is chilling up on the top of your foot, and the other half is down at the base of your heel. First time knitters, you’re probably thinking this is pretty weird about now, amirite?

How’s it going, knit-alongers? Hopefully you’ve all survived swatching, casting on, and knitting your ankles last week. If you’re still working on the ankle, no worries! Everyone is welcome to knit at their own pace and ask questions as you work through each phase of your socks. :)

Today we’re going to be adding a heel flap to our socks, which is super duper easy! It’s the one part of knitting a sock done flat instead of in the round. This means you’ll be knitting back and forth for a few inches, turning your work just like you’re making a scarf or blanket.

I have a big announcement – I’ve decided to finally take the plunge and host a knit along right here on Hands Occupied! Starting April 15, we’ll be knitting a pair of socks, top down style, on double pointed needles (a.k.a. DPNs). This is a great knit along for intermediate knitters who want to try socks (or using DPNs) for the first time!

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Heidi Gustad, and I’m a yarn crafts designer and blogger, partial to primary colors, vintage style and most needlecrafts. Along with two designer friends, I co-host The Very Serious Crafts Podcast. My first book is set to be released in the fall of 2020.